Old Testament Reading: Proverbs 15:1–9

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who pursues righteousness.” (Proverbs 15:1–9, ESV)

Sermon Text: 1 Timothy 6:11-12

“But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:11–12, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

*****

Introduction

In the passage that is before us today, Paul turns his attention from negatively warning against false teachers to positively exhorting Timothy to be faithful in the ministry. In verse 11 we read, “But as for you, O man of God…” So you see that Paul directly addresses Timothy here. And notice that he refers to him as a “man of God”. What does this phrase, “man of God”, mean? 

Well, it can be taken in a generic sense and applied to all believers. All believers are called to be men and women of God. As followers of Christ, we are to love God. We are to worship and serve him in all that we do, living lives of holiness before him. Taken in this generic sense, all Christain men are “men of God”, and all Christian women are “women of God”, at least they should be. 

But I do believe that the phrase “man of God” has a more technical meaning. It is sometimes used in the scriptures to refer to leaders within Old Covenant Israel and the New Covenant church. Moses was called “the man of God” in Deuteronomy 33:1. Prophets like Elijah were called “[men] of God” (i.e. 1 Kings 17:24). And here in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we read, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17, ESV). Immediately after this Paul charges Timothy as an ordained minister of the gospel, to “preach the word; [to] be ready in season and out of season; [to] reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2, ESV).

So when Paul called Timothy a “man of God” it was to remind him, not only that he was a Christian man, but that he was a man set apart for Christian ministry. He was a minister within Christ’s church. The phrase is technical, therefore. Paul used it to remind Timothy of his ordination. So we must keep this in mind. What Paul says here he says to Timothy the Christian man and minister. And no, this does not mean that the passage applies only to ministers. It applies to all Christians generally, men and women, young and old. But it applies especially to Christian ministers.  

*****

The Man Of God Must Flee From Evil

In verses 11-12 we learn that the man of God must flee from evil and pursue righteousness. 

Verse 11: But as for you, O man of God, 

flee these things. 

Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 

Fight the good fight of the faith. 

Take hold of the eternal life 

to which you were called 

and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 

Notice the string of imperatives, or commands — flee, pursue, fight and take hold of, Paul says. In just a moment we will talk about what Timothy was to flee from, pursue, fight against, and take possession of. But let me first make this general observation. These are all things that are done in battle. The Christian life is a battle, friends. And so too is Christian ministry. In battle, a soldier will be constantly fleeing, pursuing, and fighting with the objective being to take hold of some prize. And so it is for the Christan and the Christian minister. The Christian life is a battle. And the battlefield is no place for idleness, complacency, or a lack of direction.  

“Flee these things”, Paul says. What things? 

Well, there are many things that we are to flee from in the Christian life. In 1 Corinthians 6:18 Paul says, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18, ESV). In 1 Corinthians 10:14 Paul says, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14, ESV). And in 2 Timothy 2:22 he says, “So flee youthful passions…” (2 Timothy 2:22, ESV). So what are we to flee from? We are to flee from all that is sinful. The Christian is to “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Romans 12:9, ESV). But when Paul tells Timothy to “flee these things”, he has in mind the things that he has just warned against in the previous passage. In particular, the love of money, lack of contentment, and the prideful, quarrelsome disposition characteristic of the false teachers. “Flee these things”, Timothy. Run away from these things, Paul says. 

You know, brothers and sisters, there is a time to stand and fight but there is also a time to run. A skilled warrior knows the difference. And if you are to be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ then you must learn to flee when the time is right. You must run away from sin, brothers and sisters. You must run away from temptation. I’m afraid that we are sometimes far too comfortable with sin and complacent in regard to the temptation to sin. Instead of running away when we see the prowling lion a long way off, we let it come near, and even walk towards it, so that we cannot escape when it decides to pounce. Perhaps it is the sin of lust. Perhaps it is pride. Maybe it is resentment or discontentment, anger, anxiety, or fear. In some instances, we are physically in places that we should not be. But more often than not, the battle is in the mind and the heart. Friends, so many of our battles are fought there in the mind and heart.   

“Flee these things”, Paul says. What things? Love of money, discontentment, pride, and a quarrelsome disposition. All who are in Christ must flee from these things, but especially ministers within Christ’s church, for when they stumble in these things, the damage to the congregation and the name of Christ can be very great. Brothers and sisters, are you running away from sin — even those sins that reside within the heart and mind?  

*****

The Man Of God Must Pursue Righteousness, Godliness, Faith, Love, Steadfastness, Gentleness

 

Not only are we to “flee” from sin, we must also “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, [and] gentleness.”  

Some think that the Christian faith is all about running away from evil. It is that. Those who have Christ as Lord are to run from wickedness. But the Christian faith also involves running toward God and godliness through faith in Christ. He has atoned for all our sins. He has freed us from the curse of the law and from bondage to sin. And he empowers us to live right before him by his word and Spirit. And so Paul not only says, “flee”, but also, “pursue” — “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, [and] gentleness.” 

This is similar to what Paul says elsewhere using the language “put off” and “put on”. In Ephesians 4:22 he says. “put off your old self… [and] put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22–24, ESV). To merely “put off the old self” will not do. That would leave us unclothed. In Christ, we must also “put on the new self” so that we are clothed in righteousness and holiness. Do not only “put off”, but also “put on”. And do not only “flee” from sin, but also “pursue” holiness.  

This is very important, friends. Christ did not only die to remove the stain of your guilt but also to make you holy and to sanctify you according to the truth. And his desire is that we would, not only run away from doing evil in thought, word, and deed but that we would also do what is right in Christ Jesus.

I’ve put it this way to my children before: “I’m not only telling you to not be mean. I’m telling you to be kind.” Do you see the difference, brothers and sisters? The difference is profound. Husbands, do not be harsh with your wives. Instead, honor them and love them. Put off harshness but do not forget to put on the gentleness. Christian, do not covet. Instead, be thankful to God. Put off and put on. Flee and pursue. And do not be prideful. Instead, be humble. Put off and put on. Flee and pursue. Apply this principle to whatever sin is plaguing you. It is plaguing you, in part, because you are trying to put it off, without putting on righteousness and holiness in its place, by the grace of God. If you have put off the old self, that is good. But now you are unclothed. And if you neglect to put on the new self, you will revert to putting on the old self, for we cannot go about unclothed. Put off the old self and put on the new. Flee from evil and pursue what is right in God’s sight. With God’s help, replace the fear with faith, the lie with truth, the discontentment with thanksgiving, the harshness with gentleness, the hate with love. 

Flee from evil, and “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, [and] gentleness.” I ask you, are you pursuing these things? To pursue something means to strive after it “with intense effort and with [a] definite purpose or goal” (LouwNida, 662). Are you pursuing these things? They will not fall in your lap, brothers and sisters. They will come to you by the grace of God alone. But do you see that God calls you to strive after these things with intense effort? Every good Calvinist knows this. We know that in sanctification God, by his grace, enables us to pursue these things so that we might obtain them. Are you pursuing these things? Or have you grown complacent?   

Are you chasing after righteousness? Of course, the scriptures in other places teach so very clearly that no man (except Christ) is righteous (Romans 3:10). All have broken God’s commandments and stand guilty before him. The only way for fallen sinners to be made right in God’s sight is through faith in Christ. We must have Christ’s righteousness given to us. Our filthy, sin-stained garments must be removed, and we must be clothed in Christ’s pure white garments. All of this — the removal of our guilt and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness — is received by faith alone (read all of Romans, particularly 3:21-22). But this is not what Paul is here exhorting Timothy to pursue. Timothy already had Christ’s righteousness as his own. That came to him the moment he believed. He did not need more of it, for there was no more of it for him to get! When we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness we are clothed fully and forever. No, Paul is not talking about imputed righteousness here, but personal righteousness. Having been made righteous by the grace of God and through faith in Christ, Timothy was then to pursue righteousness — that is to say, he was to strive with everything in him, and with the strength that only God can give, to live right before God. 

In Romans, after establishing that no one is righteous, and that to be righteous one must be clothed in Christ’s righteousness, which is received through faith in Christ alone, Paul then says this: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:12–14, ESV). In other words, having been made righteous by the grace of God and through faith in Christ, now be righteous — that is to say, live right before God — with the strength that God supplies. Pursue righteousness. Strive with intense effort to do what God requires of you as revealed in his word. Pursue righteousness.  

And notice that we are to pursue godliness too. Godliness is similar to righteousness, but it is not the same. The word means to have “appropriate beliefs and devout practice of obligations relating to” God. To be godly is to be religious and pious (LouwNida, 530). The word “pious” has fallen on hard times. When people hear it they tend to think of someone who has a pious — that is to say, an arrogant and snooty — attitude. That is not what we are chancing after. But piety in the form of humble, warm, heartfelt, religious devotion to God and the things of God is to be pursued. Godliness is something we must regain in the church today. We must regain and maintain right belief and devout religious devotion within Christ’s church. Pursue godliness.

And pursue faith. Faith here refers to trust in God through Christ. Pursue faith, brothers and sisters. Walk by faith and not by sight. What does that mean? It means live your life in obedience to God being propelled by faith in God and his promises, and by not what you see with your natural eyes. Your natural eyes might tell you that God is losing and that it would be better to live for the pleasures of this earth. But if you see with eyes of faith you will me moved to trust God and obey him, even if it costs you the world. If fear is hindering you from serving God faithfully in this world, then you need to grow in faith. I am not calling you to live foolishly. But I am calling you to live faithfully, being freed and empowered to live courageously in this world because you trust in God. You are to trust his promises. You are to trust that he will accomplish all of his purposes. You are to trust that he will keep you and bring you safely into his eternal kingdom. You already have faith in Christ. Now walk by faith, and pursue even greater faith. Grow in knowledge of God and the promises of his word. And in prayer say, Lord “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24, ESV). Pursue faith.

Pursue love too. Love refers to love for God and our fellow man. God is love. And love is to be the distinguishing characteristic of the Christian. The Christian is to love God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength. And the Christain is to love his neighbor as himself.  Hear John 4:7ff: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:7–12, ESV). Pursue love. 

Add to this steadfastness. Steadfastness is the ability to “continue to bear up under difficult circumstances…” (LouwNida, 307). To be steadfast is to endure in the face of difficulty. If someone told you that Jesus died to make your life easy, they told you a lie. Jesus died to make you holy. He died to reconcile you to the Father. He died so that you might have life eternal. But he was honest. He spoke to his disciples saying, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, ESV). And his disciples did experience tribulations. Many were killed for their faith. The author of this letter we are studying suffered greatly and was eventually killed for his faith. And this is why wrote to his co-worker Timothy saying, you are going to need “steadfastness”. All Christians will need steadfastness, for life in this world is plagued with difficulties. But ministers especially need it. If they are not steadfast, they will certainly shrink back from the work of the ministry. In times of persecution, it is the ministers who suffer the greatest. And in times of peace, the church is still plagued by troubles of many kinds. 

We must pursue steadfastness, but we will not obtain it if we do not first have faith and love. It is strong faith and a sincere love for God and neighbor that will move us to endure. This is what Paul says in Romans 5:1ff: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:1–5, ESV). Pursue steadfastness, brothers and sisters. 

But how does a Christian cultivate steadfastness? How does a child of God develop the ability to persevere in the faith while bearing up under difficult circumstances? Three things come to mind besides the general things I have already said about the need for strong faith and sincere love. 

One, the Christian who wishes to be steadfast should consider carefully those who were steadfast who have gone before us. Consider Job. Consider Abraham. Consider Joseph and David. Consider Christ and his Apostles. Indeed, there are many others in the history of the church who suffered patiently through trials and tribulations of various kinds and counted it all joy. Learn from them, brothers and sisters. See how they walked by faith and not by sight. See how they lived, not for this world, but for the world to come. See how they believed that God was with them in the suffering to bring good from it, though his purpose remained a mystery.  

Two, the Christian who wishes to be steadfast should pay special attention to what the scriptures say regarding God’s purpose for suffering. In other words, be sure that you hold to sound doctrine. If your doctrine of God is off, you will not suffer well. If your doctrine of man, sin, and salvation is off, you will not suffer well. I might even say, if your eschatology is off, you may not suffer well. Doctrine matters, friends. And one question you must have settled is, is it God’s will for his people to suffer in this life? The answer is, yes! Listen to 1 Peter 2:20: “For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:20–21, ESV). And consider how Paul’s preaching ministry is summarized in Acts 14:22. There we are told that he went about the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22, ESV). Those who have believed the lie that God’s will for them is that they have health, wealth, and prosperity in this life, will not suffer well. They will certainly believe that God has failed them when they suffer. But we know that God cannot fail his people, for he has promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5, ESV). And when we suffer we know that our loving Father has a purpose in it.  Doctrine matters, friends. And you had better get sound doctrine before the trial comes. It is much more difficult to get sound doctrine regarding suffering and the sovereignty of God in the midst of the trial. It is not impossible. But the best time for laying a foundation is when the skies are clear and the sea calm. If you wait until the rain falls, the wind blows, and the waves crash ashore, it may be too late. Get sound doctrine now if you wish to be steadfast.  

And thirdly, the Christian who wishes to be steadfast must be steadfast in the little things today. Be steadfast in the little trials and tribulations if you wish to be steadfast in the big ones. Have you ever wondered how the martyrs came to have the faith and courage to stand for Christ even when faced with the threat of death? Or have you ever watched a brother or sister suffer greatly and yet maintain a deep love for God with joy and thankfulness in their heart? Where does that strength come from? Well, it comes from God. It by his grace that we stand. But it most likely also comes from practice. Be steadfast in the little things, brothers and sisters. Endure suffering well from day to day, and teach your children to do the same. We must learn to deal with dangers, difficulties, and disappointments, big and small, in a faithful way, entrusting our souls to God, who is sovereign over all. Do not be easily discouraged or dismayed, brothers and sister. Trust in God. Be steadfast.

And to all of this add gentleness. I’m afraid that in the world, and perhaps even in the church, gentleness is equated with weakness. And I suppose that some who are gentle are weak. But the two do not go together. It is possible to strong yet gentle. Our Lord was strong and gentle. He was the strongest, most mature, and uncompromising man ever to live, and yet he was meek and mild. The truth is this — it is those who are harsh who tend to be inwardly weak. They are harsh because they are afraid. They are harsh because they are immature and insecure. But those who have strong faith, sincere love, and a steadfast spirit may also be gentle. Pursue gentleness, brothers and sisters.        

Gentleness is a very important Christian virtue. Listen to Galatians 6:1: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” (Galatians 6:1, ESV). Ephesians 4:1: “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1–3, ESV). And listen to the way that Paul described his own ministry. He wrote to the Thessalonians saying, “But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7, ESV). 

All Christians are to pursue gentleness. But it is essential that ministers be gentle. This was one of the qualifications for elders, remember. An elder must not be “violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money” (1 Timothy 3:3, ESV). Ministers must be gentle because they are called to serve hurting people. And even when they must rebuke the rebellious, they are to do in humility and with self control.  

Perhaps I can put it this way. Harshness reveals weakness. We are harsh when we are tired, frustrated, fearful, selfish and prideful. Do not hear me forbidding firmness. Christ was sometimes firm. Paul was firm. There is a place for that. But never should we be harsh — nasty, mean, cutting, and rude. We must pursue a gentle and loving disposition. 

  *****

The Man Of God Must Fight The Good Fight Of The Faith

Thirdly, we learn in this passage that the man of God must fight the good fight of the faith.

The word translated as “fight” means to struggle or strive. The Greek word is ἀγωνίζου. Perhaps you can hear in that Greek word the English word, agonize. The Christian life is a struggle, friends. 

In other places, Paul uses athletic and even military metaphors to describe the Christian life.   

In 1 Corinthians 9:24 we read, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete [ἀγωνιζόμενος] exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:24–27, ESV). We are to struggle and strive in the Christian faith just as an athlete struggles and strives in the gymnasium. 

And remember what Paul has already said to Timothy: “This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience” (1 Timothy 1:18–19, ESV). We are to struggle and strive in the Christian faith just as warrior struggles and strives on the field of battle. 

Do you?  Are you fighting the good fight of the faith? Or have you chosen a life of leisure and ease instead? The Christian life is a struggle, friends. We must fight against temptation and sin. We must fight against unbelief. We must contend with the world, the Evil One and his schemes, and even our own flesh. 

   *****

The Man Of God Must Take Hold Of Eternal Life

Fourthly, and finally, we learn that the man of God must take hold of eternal life.

 What does Paul mean when he commands Timothy to “take hold of the eternal life”? Didn’t Timothy already have eternal life? Isn’t eternal life ours the moment we believe upon Christ? Yes and no. 

Eternal life is ours now because Christ has earned it for us. Eternal life is our inheritance, and the Spirit of God is our deposit and guarantee. The Spirit seals us when we believe. He puts his mark on un in the waters of baptism. But we will take possession of eternal life in the future when we pass from this earth, or when Christ returns to make all things new. This is what Paul says in Ephesians 1:13ff: “In [Christ] you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13–14, ESV). So you have eternal life now. It is yours by way of promise and inheritance. But we have not taken full possession of it. 

 When Paul commanded Timothy to “take hold of the eternal life” he meant, persevere in the faith until the end. Yes, God will preserve all who are his. And one of the means that God uses to preserve his people are the commands of scripture to persevere. God will preserve his elect. And he preserves his elect, in part, by commanding them to persever, and empowering them to obey. 

Notice that eternal life was the thing “to which [Timothy was] called.” Timothy, just like you and me, was called to faith in Christ so that he would have eternal life. 

And notice that eternal life was the thing “about which [Timothy] made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” I take this as a reference to Timothy’s baptism, though it could also refer to his ordination. The point is this, Timothy was to persevere. He was to follow through on his profession of faith and his commitment to serve as a minister in Christ’s church. 

Consider this, dear brethren. The pressures on Timothy to turn back were probably very great. We should not forget that Paul, his mentor, had been imprisoned, would be would imprisoned again, and eventually killed for his faith in Christ, and particularly his work in the ministry. Do not underestimate the pressures that Timothy felt. Do not underestimate the dangers. Remembering the dangers helps us to better appreciate Paul’s exhortation to perseverance.  

Brothers and sisters, I do hope that you are comforted by the promise that Christ will keep all who are his and will lose not one (see John 17; Romans 8:29ff). He will surely finish the work he started in you (Philippians  1:6). But it is also important for you to hear these exhortations to persevere. They are found throughout the scriptures. And they are very important. God uses these exhortations to move us to perseverance. He preserves us by his grace. And how does he do it? By enabling us to persevere! Friends, you have a part to play. Do not grow slack. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it” (1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV). “[Press] on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14, ESV). “While the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it” (Hebrews 4:1, ESV). 

   *****

Conclusion

The man of God, and all of the saints with him, must flee from evil, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness; fight the good fight of the faith, and take hold of the eternal life. All of this requires living with intentionality. The Christian must not simply drift through life. No, the Christian must count the cost, pick a side, and have only one King, for the Christian life is not a stroll in the park, it is battle.

Friends, this passage that we have studied today and the one that follows it really do belong together. Time will not permit us to give adequate attention to both of them today, and so I have saved verses 13-16 for the next Lord’s Day. But I thought it would be good to at least mention the message of the following passage by way of conclusion, for there is good news there, comfort, and hope, 

In this passage that we studied today, Timothy, and we along with him, are exhorted to run, fight, and persevere in the Christian life. And how important it is for us to be exhorted in this way! In the following passage, Paul charges Timothy again. But in that text he emphasizes, no so much our responsibility, but the source of our strength, life, and hope — namely, God and Christ.    

Let me simply read that text to you as we close. “I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen” (1 Timothy 6:13–16, ESV).

How will the people of God persevere in the faith when faced with trials and tribulations of many kinds? By trusting in God and Christ who is our life. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Ecclesiastes 5:10–20 

“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger. Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10–20, ESV)

Sermon Text: 1 Timothy 6:2c-10

“Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:2–10, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Truth Matters

Verse 2 of 1 Timothy 6 concludes with the words, “teach and urge these things.” I would like to begin the sermon today by considering these words. Paul’s command to Timothy was to “teach and urge these things.” 

I take this to refer to the preceding section wherein Paul gave instructions to Timothy concerning his ministry to young and old, male and female, widows, elders, and finally bondservants within the congregation. Now Paul exhorts Timothy to faithfully “teach and urge these things.” To “teach” is to instruct. To “urge” is to call others to obey what is taught. Of course, this was not all Timothy was to teach. Timothy, and all ministers of the gospel with him, must teach the whole counsel of God’s word. They are called to “preach the word”, to “be ready in season and out of season”, to “reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2, ESV). By now it should be clear that the central task of the minister is to teach God’s word and to urge the members of the congregation to obey it. This is the minister’s work. 

And have you ever wondered why the preaching and teaching of God’s word is such a central element of the work of the ministry? Why is the preaching and teaching of God’s word so crucial to the life of the church?

In brief, the answer is, because truth matters. It is through the truth of the gospel that men and women come to be saved from their sins. And it is through the truth of God’s word that men and women are sanctified — that is to say, changed so that they grow to be more like Christ. Truth matters. And so the truth of God’s word must be proclaimed if men and women are to be saved from their sins and grow up in holiness. This is the work of the pastor, to teach God’s truth and to urge men and women, young and old, to believe and obey it. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a truth claim. To believe the truth of the gospel is to be saved. To reject the truth of the gospel is to remain condemned. Is this not what the most famous of all Bible verses teaches? “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:16–18, ESV). So, to be saved from condemnation one must believe upon Jesus the Christ. And if we are to believe upon him we must know the truth about God, Christ, and what it is that he came to save us from. Truth matters. The gospel must be proclaimed and taught if men and women are to be saved from their sins. 

And those who have believed upon Christ — those who have been saved from their sin and the condemnation that is due to them — grow in holiness as they grow in their knowledge of the truth. This is why the Scriptures speak to Christians saying, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2, ESV). Transformation — sanctification — comes through the renewal of the mind. 

Truth matters. It is by the truth that we are saved, and it is by the truth we are sanctified. As Christ has said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32, ESV). To live according to the truth is to walk in freedom, light, and life. But to live according to a lie is to live in bondage, darkness, and death. So many walk in darkness. They walk in darkness because they live according to a lie. They claim to be free, but they are bound. They appear to be alive, but they are dead. Not so for the people of God. As Paul says in Ephesians 5:8, “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8–10, ESV).

Truth matters. And the truth must be proclaimed. 

But what is truth? That question has haunted men for a long time? And I can understand why men have been haunted by this question. It is hard to know for sure what the truth is when left to ourselves with only our emotions and reason to depend upon. But what do we say in response to the question, what is truth? We say God is truth! And more than this we say, God has revealed himself to us generally in the world that he has made, and much more clearly in his word. In other words, the God of truth has not left us alone to wander about in the darkness. No, God has spoken. The truth may be known, therefore. Now, this does not mean that the truth may be known exhaustively. There are many things that remain a mystery to us. But the truth of God may be known sufficiently as we encounter it in the world, and especially in God’s Holy Word. 

So why are ministers called to preach the word? Why are they called to “teach and urge these things”? Because truth matters. It is by the truth of the gospel that we are saved, and it is by the truth that our minds are renewed and our lives transformed. And for this reason Timothy (and every minister with him)  was to “devote [himself] to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.”He was to “Practice these things, [and] immerse [himself]  in them, so that all [world] see [his] progress.” He was to “keep a close watch on [himself] and on the teaching.” He was to “persist in this, for by so doing [he would] save both [himself] and [his] hearers” (1 Timothy 4:13–16, ESV).

Brothers and sisters, the word of truth is our spiritual bread. It energizes our spiritual life. But if it is corrupted, then that which once brought life and nourishment brings only sickness and death. And this why we have heard Paul throughout this letter exhort Timothy to “teach and urge these things” within the Christian congregation. 

Application: 

There is obvious application here for elders. Elders must be faithful to uphold and guard the teaching ministry of the church. Pastors must be faithful to teach God’s word and to urge the congregation to obey it, because truth matters. 

 But what is the application for the congregation?

First of all, I wonder, are you aware of the power of the truth? Do you agree that when the truth is known and believed it is in fact transformational? Brothers and sisters, what we believe to be true determines the trajectory of our lives and impacts every decision that we make. I’m afraid we are often oblivious to this reality. Rarely are we even mindful of our deeply held beliefs and the way they affect our outlook on life, our priorities, our mood, the way we speak and act, and the way we spend our time and money. Everyone has beliefs and convictions that inform how they live. Some are more aware of these convictions than others. And some have thought them through more carefully than others. But all have beliefs and convictions. And here I am urging you to see that what you believe to be true concerning God and this world which he has made is powerful — it is very impactful. Truth matters. 

To illustrate I might ask you to think of the difference that believing, or not believing, in the existence of God makes in a person’s life. Use your imagination. Think of how differently you would live if you did not believe that God exists. Whether or not you believe in the existence of God will radically affect your view of the world, the meaning and purpose of your life, and the importance of the decisions you make, among other things. Friends, to believe the wrongs things means that your life is on the wrong path, but to believe what is true means that your life is on the right path. Please do not underestimate the power of the truth. In the truth there is freedom, light, and abundant life. But the way of falsehood is darkness and leads only to death. Do not underestimate the power of the truth. 

Secondly, to those who know the truth of God’s word I ask, are you eager for more of it? It should be clear to all that believing, or not believing, in the existence of God will have a significant impact upon the trajectory of your life. But what about other beliefs? What is the nature of God? What are his attributes? What are his plans and purposes? What is his relationship to the suffering we experience in this life? Is he in control of all things, or no? How can we stand before him right? What is his will for you? What is his will for the church? How does he change his people? On and on I could go. My purpose here is to move you to agree that truth matters. And having agreed that truth matters, I pray that you would desire more and more of it.  A man walking in total darkness would be grateful for just a little bit of light so that he could see the truth concerning his surroundings. But he would not be content with just a little light, would he? No, a little light would make him hungry for more! He would naturally desire more and more light until he is able to fully perceive the truth of the world around him. I pray this is true of you. But we know that some men love the darkness rather than the light. They love “the darkness rather than the light because their works [are] evil” (John 3:19, ESV). I pray that you all are lovers of light, and not darkness. “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8, ESV).   

Thirdly, having agreed that truth matters, and being hungry for the truth yourself, I urge you to pray the Lord’s blessing upon the ministry of the word in this congregation and for those who minister it. 

God’s truth will certainly prevail in the end. More and more I long for this characteristic of the new heavens and earth. There will be many wonderful things in the new heavens and new earth. And sometimes I find myself longing for one aspect of it more than others — no sickness or death, no sin, etc. But think of it, in the new heavens and new earth there will be only truth, and no falsehood. The question “what is truth?” will not be asked in that place, for all things will be seen clearly in the light of the glory of God. I long for that day. 

And I do also believe that truth will prevail in this world. Never will it be snuffed out. Why? Above all. because God is truth. He has given us his word and will preserve it till the end. But he has also designed this world in truth. God’s truth permeates and governs the created world. And so things that are false do, over time, self-destruct. Perhaps you have noticed this in the lives of individuals (maybe your own), in marriages, families, communities, and nations. Where falsehoods and lies predominate, there we find division and disorder leading ultimately to death. Things that are false will not last. God will judge all that is false in the end. He may even judge what is false now. But things that are false will also (naturally) self-destruct with the passing of time, for they are fundamentally flawed. Individuals, families, and governments that live contrary to God and to the world as he has made it will not last, much less thrive. Think of the parable that Jesus told regarding the man who built upon a rock compared to the man who built his house on the sand. Those who disregard God’s truth as revealed in his world and in his word are doomed for destruction. And this is why I say that truth will prevail in this world. Things that are true will last, by the grace of God. Things that are false will not, and this is according to his design.  

Truth will prevail. I am confident in this. But we should not forget that until the Lord returns to make all things new a battle will rage between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. We are the light of the world, brothers and sisters (Matthew 5:14). Do not forget it. But also do not forget that the world hates the light. “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed” (John 3:20, ESV). Please pray for the ministry of the word in Christ’s churches and also for those who minister the word of God. 

The word’s “teach and urge these things” remind us that truth matters, that the church is “a pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15, ESV), and that ministers are to preach God’s word, urging men and women, young and old, to obey it. 

*****

Falsehood Produces Ungodly Division

Truth matters. And in verses 3-5 Paul warns against false teachers and their false doctrine by exposing their selfish motives and warning of their bad fruit. What does falsehood produce? Ungodly division.

Verse 3: “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” (1 Timothy 6:3–5, ESV)

There is a lot here, but we will be able to move through it rather quickly.

What makes a false teacher false? 

A false teacher is false because he teaches a  “different doctrine”. Doctrine means teaching. When Paul warns against a “different doctrine” he implies that there is a standard doctrine to which all teaching within the church is to conform.  

So what is the standard? What is our teaching to agree with? Look at the end of verse 3. Our teaching is to “agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The word translated as “sound” means healthy and wholesome. Christ’s teaching is sound because it is good, right, true, and complete. It is wholesome teaching. It is sound teaching.

And where are these “sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Well, I suppose the first place we would look is to the gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There the words of Christ are recorded for us. But if we listen carefully to his words we will see that we must look to the Old Testament Scriptures also. Christ appealed to them as authoritative. And Christ taught that he was the fulfillment of the law, prophets, and Psalms. So the words of Christ compel us to go to the Old Testament for true doctrine. And the words of Christ in the gospels do also compel us to go to the writings of his apostles, for they were his special representative. They saw him in his resurrection. They were commissioned by him. They performed signs and wonders just as Christ to show that their word was true.  What is our standard? The word of God is our standard. And we know that Christ is the eternal word of God come in the flesh.

And what do these “sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ” produce? See the end of verse 3. His teaching leads to “godliness”. Godliness here means to hold to right beliefs and to be devout in practice. The teaching of Christ produces holiness, in other words. 

But the false teacher refuses to submit to the teaching of Holy Scripture. Why does he do this? I suppose there could be many reasons, but Paul mentions two things.

One, they are “puffed up with conceit.” Verse 4: “He is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words…” There are some very strong Greek words in this verse. The English phrase “he is puffed up with conceit” is the translation of only one Greek word. Listen to the definition that one Greek lexicon provides: “to be so arrogant as to be practically demented—‘to be insanely arrogant, to be extremely proud, to be very arrogant” (Louw Nida, 764). 

I think this is a very accurate description of the one who promotes false doctrine. His arrogance is so great that he thinks he knows better than God. He will not submit to the word of Christ in the church but seeks to promote his own doctrine. He is so arrogant he is practically demented. The one who is puffed up with this kind of pride will not do what James calls us to do, which is to “ put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21, ESV). This is the starting point of the Christian life. When God draws us to himself through Christ and by his word and Spirit, he humbles us so that we receive his word, submitting to it humbly.

But the one who promotes false doctrine in the church is “puffed up with conceit.” He “understands nothing”, though he thinks he understands everything, and “he has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words…” (1 Timothy 6:4, ESV). The English phrase “he has an unhealthy craving” is also the translation of a single Greek word which means “to have an unhealthy or morbid [sick] desire for something” (Louw Nida, 289). And what do these arrogant and ignorant false teachers desire? Controversy! They love to “[quarrel] about words…” And this makes perfect sense. If someone is “so arrogant as to be practically demented” then this one will love to engage in controversy and to quarrel, for this will be the way that they display their brilliance (sarcasm)!

I have known men like this. And of course, they defend their controversial and quarrelsome ways by saying, but doctrine matters! Word’s matter! It is important that we talk about these things in the church! And of course, that is true. Doctrine does matter. Words do matter. In fact, the church is called to contend for the faith. Paul himself did that, and sometimes very strongly! But that is not what Paul is condemning here. He is condemning those who are arrogant, who refuse to submit to the word of Christ, who love controversy and quarrels and seem to run to them at every opportunity. 

How can you tell the difference between a bold and righteous contender for the faith and one who is controversial and quarrelsome? Well, attitude has a lot to do with it. So too does where they place the emphasis. Do they run to the truth and seek to uphold it, or do they fixate upon the controversial things and run to them at every opportunity? Do they build up, or tear down? And what about their timing and delivery? It’s a little hard to describe. But you know it when you see it. As a parent you know the difference between an honest question and a defiant question, don’t you? The words spoken by the child might be exactly the same, but you know the difference. The attitude, posture, tone, timing, and overall delivery reveal the heart. And so it is in Christ’s church. Some ask difficult questions and raise controversial issues because they wish to know. Others run to controversy because in their pride they love to quarrel.     

Christ said, “you will know them by their fruits”, and the same applies here. What do those with an “unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words” produce? Verses 4 and 5 tell us: “Envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth…” This is why Paul wrote to his co-worker Titus, saying, “But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned” (Titus 3:9–11, ESV).

The second thing that Paul mentions concerning the motivation of the false teacher is found at the very end of verse 5 with the words, “imagining that godliness is a means of gain” (1 Timothy 6:5, ESV). In other words, these conceited people who love controversy and quarrels wish to have a place in the church thinking that they will profit from it somehow. I have stated this before. There is money to be made in religion. And it is clear that some are drawn to hold positions of power within the church because they desire wealth. They care little about the truth but are willing to say whatever needs to be said to gain a following and to prosper in the things of this world.

Religion is good, brothers and sisters. But there is such a thing as bad religion. We must keep this in mind. Some men wish to be honored as leaders within the church so that they might profit from it. Some desire money. Others desire notoriety. Neither are appropriate motivations for Christian service. And I would imagine that persecution and suffering has a way of separating the wheat from the chaff. What will those who imagine that “godliness is a means of gain” do when persecution comes against the church? One of two things. They will either run away or alter their teaching to conform to the world around them to remove the offense and escape the threat.  

*****

Truth Produces Godliness And Contentment

False teachers imagine that “godliness is a means of gain”, but in verse 6 Paul reveals to us what is truly beneficial, saying, “But godliness with contentment is great gain…” (1 Timothy 6:6, ESV). 

This is what truth produces — godliness and contentment. And pay careful attention to this: godliness (that is to say, devout belief and right practice) is not a means to gain, but is itself “great gain” when accompanied by contentment. 

Think about that.  

The false teacher pretends to be godly not because he sees godliness as beneficial in and of itself. No, for the false teacher religious devotion is a means to earthly gain. But the true believer and the true servant of Christ understand that godliness along with contentment are themselves the true treasure. 

“But godliness with contentment is great gain…” That is one to memorize. “But godliness with contentment is great gain…” In other words, do you want something of supreme worth? Do wish to be truly blessed? Then pursue godliness. And do not pursue it because you think by having it you will gain something else — wealth, health, prosperity, or some other thing. No, pursue godliness because godliness is itself a treasure. And pursue contentment too! To be content is to be satisfied with what you have. The one who is content is satisfied in God and with God’s will for them. As I have said before, contentment does not equal complacency. There is nothing wrong with working to better your circumstances or praying for relief from some suffering. But even as we work and pray for change, we must pursue contentment with our station in life.  “But godliness with contentment is great gain…”, the apostle says. And of course, he is right.

In verse 7 he explains why: “For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” Clearly, Paul had that Ecclesiastes 5 passage that we read earlier in mind as he wrote these words. That passage is filled with truth and wisdom as it warns against the vanity or emptiness of spending your life chasing after wealth. We came into the world with nothing, and we will leave this world with nothing. Or to quote Job, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return.” And because he knew this he was able to then say, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21, ESV). The one who spends their life chasing after money and positions lives an empty life, but “godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8, ESV). It is far better to chase after godliness and to be content with what you have, as Ecclesiastes 5 so beautifully says. “Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart” (Ecclesiastes 5:10–20, ESV). This is contentment. The one who is content is free from covetousness. The one who is content is thankful. The one who is content is filled with joy, whether he has little or much. In fact, Paul calls us to be content with “food and clothing”, which has the meaning of food and adequate shelter. 

So few find this gift of contentment. How sad to think that men and women spend their days miserable inwardly because they choose to be ungrateful, jealous of others, and fixated upon what they do not have, even if they have much. But what a beautiful gift contentment is. Those with much and those with very little may have it if only they would choose to be grateful to God for his provision, to rejoice in their lot in life, and to truly enjoy what is theirs — their work, their food, and their relations — all to the glory of God. 

In verses 9 and 10 Paul contrasts the great gain of godliness and contentment with the curse of worldliness and discontentment saying, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:9–10, ESV)

*****

Conclusion

As we move now towards the conclusion and some final points of application please allow me to draw your attention to how prevalent the theme of “desire” is in this passage. Truth matters, and for this reason it is important for us to guard our minds. But our desires matter too, and for this reason it is important for us to guard our hearts.   

Not only do the false teachers fail to conform to the teaching of Christ, they are also described as being conceited,  having “an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words”, and desiring the things of this world they imagine “that godliness is a means of gain”. They “desire to be rich [and thus]  fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:2–10, ESV).

Why do I draw your attention to the theme of desire which permeates this passage? It is to show you that filling our minds with sound doctrine cannot be our only concern. As important as sound doctrine is, if we are to be found faithful we must keep our hearts too. We must keep even our desires in check, learning to love that which God loves and hating that which God hates. I’m afraid that the world, and even some within the church, have forgotten that we have control over our desires. There are some things that we should love, and other things we should hate. There are some attractions that are right, and some that are wrong. Just as we are responsible to control our thoughts, words, and deeds, so too we are responsible to control our desires or affections. Our affections are simply another aspect of our inner life over which we have control. And this is why the scriptures command us saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…” (Matthew 22:37, ESV), and they warn us saying, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” (1 Timothy 6:10, ESV). The scriptures command us to love God supremely, and they warn us against the love of money and other sensual desires because we are responsible to control even our desires bringing them into conformity to God and his word, by his grace. 

Indeed, in Christ we have been set free to do this very thing, for “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:24–26, ESV).

Truth matters. Let us be sure to guard our minds. And desires matter too. Let us be sure to keep our hearts pure, lest we “[wander] away from the faith and [pierce ourselves] with many pangs.” Godliness with contentment is indeed great gain.